Nothing Less » is what you’ll see in me

A new year, a new start.

This blog has lain dormant for nearly a year, but starting today, I am going to be using it again. Like last year, I am participating in Project 365, but hopefully I’ll be able to stick with it for more than 3 months this time around. This blog will be for posting my photos, and sharing little stories from my life. It’ll probably not be very interesting to you unless you know me personally - apologies for that in advance!

Since I haven’t blogged in a year, I think it’s only fair to give you all a quick update on what has happened in my life in the past year. 2008 has been a mixed year - some highs, but looking back now, it feels like there were more lows.

• I gave up my web design company. This was a decision easier made than I thought, but still bittersweet. I was proud of it, while it lasted, and feel like I don’t have much to show for it now.
• I started a new job, part time, at my friend’s photography studio. I love love love this job. I’m still doing some web design part time too, just to help pay the bills, and I’m conflicted about having any kind of ‘career’. Somehow I’d always imagined myself as having a career, working my way up the ladder, and I feel kind of stuck at the moment. Alison keeps reminding me it’s more important to do something I love than it is to have a career, so I’m trying to remind myself of this.
• The kittens turned one year old in May, and had their one year anniversary of living with me in July. I never thought it was possible to love two animals so much. I didn’t even realize that until I got them, I never understood the love a person can have for their pet(s). I now understand, why some people are so destroyed when a pet dies. Why pet cemeteries exist, and why people spend small fortunes on vet bills. They are a real part of my family, and I can’t imagine not having them around every day. They provide me with love, laughter, and cuddles, and I am so grateful for them.
• 2008 has not been a good year for Peaches’ health. (not that 2007 was a lot better for her, the poor thing!) Around April/May, she started vomiting on a regular basis. I’ve been to the vet with her a dozen times at least since then, and she’d been diagnosed with several things - temporary tummy infections when she had a fever (including a thermometer up her butt, which she HATES far more than getting injections!), sensitive digestion (both have had nothing but Royal Canin food since June or so, as it’s the only food Peaches seems to be able to tolerate), Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Pica (which I already knew, because she has a tendency to eat non-food things like paper and plastic). The frequent vomiting continued in spite of regular injections of anti-biotics, and about three weeks ago, I came home to find a puddle of cat vomit with so much blood in it it had turned pink. After rushing her to the vet once again, she is now on another dose of anti-biotics, as well as daily steroid pills. Two pills a day for a week, and now down to one pill a day. It was true hell, giving her a pill, at first - she hated it, cried and squirmed and I felt so horrible doing this to her. Alison has been a huge help with giving the pills, and Peaches is getting used to it now. Yesterday I gave her a pill all by myself, without help, with minimum fuss. Considering the vet said she might have to be on them for a long time, if not life, this has been a relief I can hardly describe. The first time we had to force the pills down her throat, I burst into tears. Now, I manage it in 2 minutes, and Peaches doesn’t hate me. That has to be a silver lining!
• My grandfather passed away in October. His health had been declining, and yet it was a little unexpected. I flew home for the funeral, and together with my brother wrote a letter of sorts that was read out by my aunt Irene at the service.
• My grandmother (different sides of the family) broke her leg a few weeks ago. She’s now my last remaining grandparent, just out of hospital and into rehabilitation since last week. She’s 97, so we’re taking it one day at a time.
• I did some redecorating in my living room, the upstairs study (the room I spend by far the most time in), and the downstairs toilet. Which, coincidentally, has been broken since…August? Forever, it seems. There’s something wrong with the pipes that the original builders need to fix, but since the pipes are actually on my neighbor’s property, it has been a hassle getting permission to dig things up. Things are going slow, and when I phoned the landlord to check up on any progress a few weeks ago, I was told they were still trying to get permission. Ugh. The toilet has now turned into a storage closet of some sort, just so the space isn’t totally useless.
• My only travels this year consisted of a one-night stay in Dublin with my mom, and flying to Holland for a few days for my grandfather’s funeral. Extremely light compared to past years, and I have taken less photos this year than in any year since I got my first digital camera. Pretty pathetic for an aspiring photographer.
• My brother Steven graduated from university last month (so proud!), and is leaving tomorrow for a 3-month trip through Australia on his own. I am happy and anxious and jealous all at the same time. I know he’ll have an awesome time, I wish I was going with him, and I’ll miss him. Hope you have the time of your life, little brother!

And finally, a repost from the old Nothing Less - the Christmas card I sent out to all friends and family this year. Season’s Greetings to everyone, hope you all had lovely holidays!